So it's the second day of the festival when we join in and we have a hearty breakfast to keep us going, and start to get ready. Having seen what people are wearing I'm pretty much shorts and T-shirt.... The hotel is really lovely, not cheap though and automatic 18% service charge on everything...!!! The breakfast area is by the pool, and really relaxing.
Mark Graham comes to meet us for breakfast as it turns out he is in town on business, so it's lovely to catch up with him over coffee (tea for me and H) and find out what's going on, I leave him with Helen and head for a pedicure. After Machu Picchu my feet are crying out for some pampering and turns out I get 90 minutes of it..... They come away softer than they have ever been in my life, so all pretty and new time to dance the night away!
We head to ultra in the afternoon, a quick Mojito first in Bayside and then we go in. First we have to find the entrance, we follow the crowd but its weird, either loads of people don't have tickets or just want to hang around outside the venue... Blocking the entrance!!! You have to fight your way though the loiterers to get in. The place isn't huge, but it's crowded and difficult to get around as most of it only has one route to it, it's not very open so as a result everyone is rammed into the same small paths... It makes it slow going between sets. The main stage is absolutely packed with people.
There are about 6-7 stages, quite close to each other but they do really well containing the sound to each arena it has to be said considering the close proximity. Of that I am impressed.... Looking around I'm shocked at the age range, it looks like a teenagers party... Everyone seems to be about 14-18. We decide to get a drink and when we go to order are advised we need to queue to get a wrist band and show ID!!!! ID.... I didn't bring any, neither did Helen.
So we go to the wrist band man and he says ID please, I start to explain we don't have any as didn't want to bring passports where they likely to be stolen... Helen calls out, "I'm 40" at which point all the kids (younger than her students I would say) all turn round and stare.... hilarious, shades on we look away but the man really doesn't care and gives us a wrist band anyway saying its not his problem... !!!
We head to the Carl Cox arena, and watch Cirez D who was pretty damn good and we have a fun time. We spot the only person older than us, a guy with a grey beard, large purple hat and a T-shirt that says Stay Calm and Rave On!!! Every now and then we turn round to a huge Utlra festival camera right in our faces filming.... I am praying we don't make the cut!
After Cirez D we head to the main stage, catching the end of Benny Bennasi and then a bit of cheesy fun with Fat Boy Slim. It's ridiculously crowded, my shades keep steaming up, and I'm wedged in between a bunch of 18 year old Mexicans who have found a new use for the platypus!!! And filled it with tequila.... Ah, so now I understand why everyone here has a platypus on their back... What ever happened to bottles! Anyway, despite the pushing, shoving and general ignorance of the crowd we make it through in one piece unscathed and still smiling.
Next stop Carl Cox, he plays really well as always and by this time we are a bit full on vodka red bull and were topped up with platypus tequila!! Still, the crowd are really not very friendly and the atmosphere not great. Music and line up pretty great 8 or 9 out of 10, but American teenage crowd... 3 - 4 out of 10 and the oh so important toilets are nearly the worst I have seen! So in terms of value for money... Hmmm! How they can call it best international festival I really don't know. But that's just one opinion, given that most Americans never leave their own country I don't think they would ever know any different!
We leave and head back, meet up with Marky for a quick drink at the end of the day and then crash for the night. Apparently P Diddy is having a party on "star island" starting at 4am, but who can be bothered with that! Last time I saw him partying he spent the whole night blowing a very annoying trumpet... So no thanks... Will give it a miss!
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